Paperwork in Columbus

****Paperwork came back today. 3 DAYS turnaround!!*********

The paperwork made it to Columbus on July 6. Now just waiting on its return.

Since I am off the month of July, I have made myself a nesting/honey do list. Tim looked at it and laughed. Maybe I am being overly ambitious, but there are things that need to be done before I go back to work/kids back to school/Mara comes home. This last week I did absolutely NOTHING. Well I picked up, usual stuff. Man did it feel good to sleep in and get dressed at 2! Monday starts the list....

It came!

My precious paper came today! I can't do anything with it until Tuesday because of the holiday. But YAY, it came.
Tuesday I will get it notarized, go to BG for the county, and then send it on its merry way to Columbus for the state.

So when are you going????

So I hear this question from well meaning friends, family, and such "When are you going?" Short answer-dunno. Mentally I am preparing myself for fall. Any day my beloved I797C will be in the mail. That precious little paper is the hold up right now. Once it gets here; IT'S ON!
It has to be notarized, certified, authenticated--basically local-county-state-Chinese Consulate. I will be paying for FEDEx and a courier to speed this along. There are a few little things that we can do before that all happens. We need some passport pictures made and I have to send CCAI a letter that goes to China.

So basically we are in a holding pattern. It will happen.

Turning 35 Kicked My Booty

Last week I thought I had a toothache or earache. I self-medicated with ibuprofen. It took the edge off. This morning I felt pretty good, I thought I had turned the corner. That is until I tried to spit while brushing my teeth. What in the heck is wrong with my mouth? After a trip to the ER and a CT scan turns out I have Bells Palsy. (I have some antiviral and steroids to take. Also saw that B6 and B12 help, got those too!) Sounds worse than it is. See below:

DefinitionBy Mayo Clinic staff
Bell's palsy occurs when the nerve that controls facial muscles on one side of your face becomes swollen or inflamed. As a result of Bell's palsy, your face feels stiff. Half your face appears to droop, your smile is one-sided, and your eye resists closing.
Bell's palsy can affect anyone, but rarely affects people under the age of 15 or over the age of 60.
For most people, Bell's palsy symptoms improve within a few weeks, with complete recovery in three to six months. About 10 percent will experience a recurrence of Bell's palsy, sometimes on the other side of the face. A small number of people continue to have some Bell's palsy signs and symptoms for life.

Graduation

Christian is officially done with preschool. He will start kindergarten in the fall. He is such a fun kid! He has no filter on what he says, which can get him into hot water sometimes. Sniff, sniff--where does the time go?

Immigration Appt

We officially have a fingerprint appointment; May 31. I am so much more relaxed this time around; kind of like a second pregnancy. I am much more patient with the process.
I do have "things" I want done before travel. Nesting type things; stain the swingset, stain the deck, powerwash the house, plant flowers/shrubs, clean the windows, paint my office and the playroom, get the carpets cleaned, etc.. This list could go on and on.

School is almost out for the boys. It has been a good year for 6th, 1st, and pre-k. Praying that next year will be just as good, if not better.

Lazy

Oh my goodness do I need a swift kick in the behind! I feel so lazy this week. If you were to look at my house, you would know I have plenty to do. You know the drill; laundry, dishes, beds, supper, mopping, and that whole work from home thing too! Maybe I am relishing this calm week before the "Super Bowl" of my school year gets here next week. The madness of that will last well into June. (Testing, Grade Cards, Synopsis for 96 kids).

**USCIS (immigration) cashed my check last week, so that is progress--right?**